Reykjavik: Christmas Walking Tour with Icelandic Traditions

Reykjavik’s Christmas story is stranger and more entertaining than the familiar Santa tale. On this two-hour walk, you meet 13 mischievous Yule Lads, their child-eating mother Grýla, and the ferocious Christmas Cat. It is Icelandic folklore with a cold-weather twist, and it gives you something more memorable than a simple tour of decorated streets.

I like the way the walk joins local legends with real city sights, including the ice rink and market stalls at Ingólfur Square, the Oslo Christmas Tree at Austurvöllur, and Hallgrímskirkja. I also like the book-store stop, since Iceland’s love of books is a genuine part of Christmas life here, not just seasonal decoration.

The main thing to consider is the pacing. One visitor found the final 45 minutes too focused on hot chocolate, so this may feel less like a brisk sightseeing walk and more like a relaxed festive outing. Dress warmly, and remember that this tour runs only in December.

Key points

• Meet the 13 Yule Lads: Hear the stories behind Iceland’s unusual Santa figures, plus Grýla and the Christmas Cat.
• Walk Reykjavik’s decorated center: Visit Ingólfur Square, Austurvöllur, Laugavegur, and Skólavörðustígur.
• Step into Icelandic book culture: See Christmas books in a local book store and learn why reading matters so much during the holidays.
• Expect a family-friendly pace: Stories, folklore, food, and festive stops make this a good choice for children and adults.
• Finish near Hallgrímskirkja: The route ends by Reykjavik’s famous church after climbing Skólavörðustígur.
• Look for practical extras: Discounts are offered at selected Christmas shops, stalls, and restaurants.

Why Iceland’s 13 Santas make this walk different

Most Christmas walking tours give you lights, shop windows, and a bit of local history. This one gives you a cast of characters that can seem wonderfully odd at first.

Iceland has 13 Yule Lads, not one Santa. They arrive one by one during the days before Christmas, and each has a distinct name and habit. The stories are rooted in older Icelandic folklore, where winter was hard, food was precious, and naughty children had more to fear than a lump of coal.

Their mother, Grýla, is a troll who eats naughty children. Then there is the Christmas Cat, a fierce creature tied to the idea that people should receive new clothes for Christmas. These tales give the walk an edge that is missing from the usual cheerful Santa routine. They are funny, a little grim, and very Icelandic.

Your guide brings these stories to life while you move through downtown Reykjavik. The format works well for families because children get memorable characters, while adults get a useful look at how Icelandic folklore still shapes the holiday season.

Meeting at Ingólfur Square

The tour begins outside Hlöllabátar, the sandwich shop at Austurstræti 1. Face Ingólfstorg, also called Ingólfur Square, and look for the two tall stone seat-pillars, each more than two meters high. Center Hotel Plaza is on your right.

This is a practical meeting point. Benches, tables, and a covered ceiling offer shelter while you wait, which matters in December when wind and rain can make even a short pause unpleasant. Your Friend in Reykjavik guides usually wear a light blue jacket with the company name on the back.

Give yourself a few extra minutes to find the square. The tour does not begin at Hallgrímskirkja, the most obvious landmark in the area. If you use a map, search for the listed Austurstræti address rather than walking directly to the church.

The guide speaks English, and the tour is also offered privately in other languages. One guide specifically praised in a booking was Robyn, who was described as friendly and well informed. Guide assignments can vary, so do not assume Robyn will lead every departure.

Ingólfur Square’s rink and Christmas stalls

The first part of the route looks at the festive activity around Ingólfur Square. The ice skating rink, decorations, and Christmas market stalls provide the visual side of the tour.

This is where the walk helps you get your bearings in central Reykjavik. You are not simply hearing folklore in a room. You are standing among the seasonal displays and seeing how the city marks Christmas in public spaces.

The market stalls are also a chance to ask your guide about Icelandic Christmas food and drinks. Sampling may be offered during the walk, but it should not be treated as a full food tour. The focus remains on stories and traditions, with food used as a seasonal extra.

If you are traveling with children, this opening stop gives them something to look at while the guide explains the Yule Lads. If you prefer fast sightseeing, it may feel slow, especially if the group spends time enjoying hot chocolate or browsing stalls.

The Oslo Christmas Tree at Austurvöllur

From Ingólfur Square, the route continues to Austurvöllur, where you see the famous Oslo Christmas Tree.

The tree has a place in Reykjavik’s Christmas setting and gives the walk a useful connection beyond Iceland itself. Your guide can place the display within the city’s holiday customs while keeping the focus on how Christmas is celebrated in Iceland.

Austurvöllur is also one of the city’s central public squares, so this part of the route helps connect the decorations with Reykjavik’s everyday civic center. The experience is not built around grand monuments or long museum stops. Instead, you get short outdoor visits tied together by the guide’s storytelling.

Take a moment here for photographs, but keep your expectations realistic. The tour promises a look at the tree, not a dedicated photography session or a long stop devoted only to it.

Hunting for Yule Lads in downtown Reykjavik

One of the more playful parts of the walk is looking for Icelandic Yule Lads hidden around the city center.

The exact displays can vary, but the idea turns the walk into a small scavenger hunt. Instead of hearing a list of names and forgetting them, you have visual reminders to help separate one mischievous character from another.

This works especially well for families. Children can watch for the figures while adults listen to the stories behind them. You may also find that the legends are more memorable because the search happens in real streets rather than in a formal presentation.

The folklore can be darker than some families expect. Grýla’s story involves eating naughty children, and the Christmas Cat is described as ferocious. The guide presents these as traditional tales, but parents with very young children may want to decide how much detail suits their group.

A book store and Iceland’s Christmas reading habit

The book-store visit is one of the most distinctive stops. You get to see Icelandic Christmas books and hear about the country’s love of reading, especially during the holiday season.

This stop adds substance to the walk. Decorations and market stalls are seasonal, but books reveal something about Icelandic life that extends beyond December. The guide can explain why books are such an important Christmas gift and point out titles that you might not otherwise notice.

You are not promised a long browsing session or a literary lecture. Think of it as a short cultural stop that gives context to Icelandic Christmas customs. If you enjoy books, it may be one of the most rewarding parts of the route. If you are mainly seeking outdoor lights and shopping, it may feel less exciting than the market.

Laugavegur’s little Christmas shop

The walk then reaches Laugavegur, Reykjavik’s main shopping street. Here you look at the city’s one little Christmas store and selected shops offering seasonal goods.

Laugavegur is a useful stop because it shows Christmas in a commercial setting. You can compare the small specialist shop with the wider range of stores along the street, while your guide points out Christmas-related items and local traditions.

Discounts at selected Christmas shops, stalls, and restaurants are included as a bonus. Their value depends on what you want to buy or eat. A discount is useful only if the item already interests you, so do not count it as a guaranteed way to recover the tour price.

Still, the discounts can make the $66 cost easier to justify for someone planning to buy holiday gifts or stop for food. They also give you a reason to revisit places after the tour ends.

Walking up Skólavörðustígur to Hallgrímskirkja

The final stretch follows Skólavörðustígur toward Hallgrímskirkja. This is one of the prettiest streets on the route, with shops and seasonal items to look at as you climb.

The tour ends at Hallgrímskirkja, Reykjavik’s best-known church. Ending there gives you a clear landmark and leaves you well placed to continue exploring the city center on your own.

The walk is suitable for wheelchair users, but the route includes a climb up Skólavörðustígur. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, so you should still mention any specific mobility needs when booking if you want the operator to confirm the route conditions for your departure.

Because this is an outdoor winter walk, footwear matters. Wear comfortable shoes with good grip and enough clothing for standing still while the guide tells stories. December weather can change quickly, and festive scenery is less enjoyable when you are cold.

What the food and drink add to the experience

I would not book this as a substitute for a Reykjavik food tour. Food and drinks are part of the Christmas theme, and you might sample seasonal items, but the heart of the experience is folklore and walking.

The hot chocolate is worth putting in context. It can be a welcome winter break, especially for families, and it fits the mood of the tour. However, one booking found that the final 45 minutes spent getting hot chocolate took too much time away from sightseeing.

That tells you something important about the style of this activity. It is not a tightly timed march from landmark to landmark. The guide may allow space for conversation, warming up, and enjoying the holiday atmosphere. I like that relaxed approach when the weather is pleasant and the group is in the mood for Christmas treats. I would be less keen on it if I had only one short afternoon in Reykjavik.

Is $66 a fair price?

At $66 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see central Reykjavik. You can walk the main streets and view many decorations without paying for a guide.

The price makes more sense if you value the interpretation. You are paying for a local English-speaking guide, a planned route, Icelandic folklore, access to a book-store stop, a Christmas market visit, and possible discounts at selected businesses. The guide also saves you from having to research the Yule Lads, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat on your own.

The rating attached to the activity is 4.7 from eight reviews, with strong praise for the guides’ friendliness and the clarity of the cultural explanation. Robyn, in particular, was praised after a December departure, and another booking described the guide as excellent and well informed.

The limited number of ratings means I would not treat the score as a guarantee of a perfect experience. The less positive experience focused on the amount of time spent over hot chocolate. That is a fair warning for anyone who wants maximum sightseeing in every minute.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik Christmas walk?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families looking for a simple, seasonal activity
• First-time visitors who want local context for Icelandic Christmas customs
• Readers interested in folklore, books, and everyday culture
• People who enjoy relaxed walking rather than a tightly packed schedule
• Visitors staying in Reykjavik during December who want a festive introduction to the city

I would think twice if you dislike cold-weather walking, have no interest in Christmas traditions, or want a tour focused on major historic sights. The route is about stories, atmosphere, and seasonal customs. It is not a full overview of Reykjavik.

The tour lasts two hours, which is a useful length. It is long enough to feel like a real outing but short enough to fit around museums, meals, or an evening northern lights plan. Starting times vary, so check the schedule for your date.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour, and you can reserve now and pay later. Smoking is not allowed. These are small details, but they make the activity easier to fit into a changeable winter itinerary.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Christmas in Reykjavik to mean more than lights and shopping. The 13 Yule Lads, Grýla, and the Christmas Cat give you stories you are unlikely to forget, while the book store and market stops add useful local detail.

I would choose it for a family, a first visit, or a December stay when you want a gentle introduction to Icelandic customs. At $66, it is worthwhile when you make use of the guide’s stories, food suggestions, and discounts.

Skip it if you want a fast city walk with constant sightseeing. The relaxed pace, possible hot chocolate stop, and focus on folklore may not suit every schedule. For most visitors who enjoy winter traditions and do not mind bundling up, it offers a friendly and distinctive way to see central Reykjavik.

FAQ

How long is the Christmas walking tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

When is this tour available?

The tour is available only in December.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet outside Hlöllabátar sandwich shop at Austurstræti 1 in Reykjavik. Face Ingólfur Square and the two tall stone seat-pillars, with Center Hotel Plaza to your right.

Where does the tour end?

The walk ends near Hallgrímskirkja church after continuing up Skólavörðustígur.

What Christmas characters will I learn about?

You will learn about Iceland’s 13 Yule Lads, their mother Grýla, and the ferocious Christmas Cat.

Does the tour visit a Christmas market?

Yes. The route includes a visit to Christmas market stalls and the festive area around Ingólfur Square.

Does the tour include a book-store visit?

Yes. You will make a short visit to a book store to see Icelandic Christmas books and learn about the country’s love of books.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.